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St. Stephens senior headed to Washington, sets sights on Navy, overseas work as doctor

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 12, 2009

HICKORY - Shantara Propst is not afraid to go after what she wants.

She may seem quiet and shy, but don't let her fool you. The senior is the company commander of St. Stephens High School's Navy JROTC. She's decided to attend Howard University in the fall, a historically black university. And she'll be going on an ROTC scholarship.

"I always wanted to go to a historically black university, and Howard University in Washington, D.C., is ranked in the top 3," Propst said.

She decided on the school after researching colleges and talking with her family members. But what sealed it for her was talking with her aunt.

"She went to Xavier, and her experiences there made me decide that that was what I wanted," Propst said.

She received an ROTC scholarship to Howard University for the dedication she has shown to the Naval program at St. Stephens High School, and her interest in pursuing a career in the Navy.

"I've been in the NJROTC program for three years. One day I was just thinking I should try it and I loved it," Propst said. "I've learned a lot and grown as an individual. It's kept me really busy."

When she attends Howard University in the fall, although she'll be there on an ROTC scholarship, she'll actually be taking her ROTC classes at George Washington University.

"They have a cross-town affiliate there," Propst said. "At Howard, they have ROTC, but they only have Army and Air Force classes, and I'm really interested in the Navy, which is what they have at George Washington. So they worked it out so I'll take my classes there."

She said she hopes to go into the Navy and become a doctor. Propst said she'd like to go to Africa and Haiti and treat diseases.

"I feel there are diseases in those countries they can't help they have, and we should help them as much as we can," she said.

Propst will have a four-year commitment with the Navy once she graduates from Howard University.
"I'm not sure what I'll do after that," she said. "Who knows?"